Shelby's Gentry involved in Suns' rebulding process

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 12:44 AM.

“I think it’s a challenge,” said Gentry, who has previously been head coach in Miami, Detroit and for the Los Angeles Clippers. “There is a lot of joy, a lot of frustrations. You see improvement and you see setbacks.

“What I’m trying to do moreso than I’ve ever done is remain even keel. Because we are going to have peaks and valleys when you’re trying to put a team together and trying to find the identity of Phoenix Suns basketball in this era.”

One of the keys to improving the Suns’ future will be the development of former University of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall, who was Phoenix’s first-round pick in June and the 13th overall selection in the draft.

“I think he’s a typical rookie and I think he’s going to be fine,” Gentry said of Marshall. “You have to look at some of the other point guards in this league and you go back and look at what they did in their rookie year and their second year. It’s a really difficult position. (But) Kendall’s a hard worker and a great passer and, in a matter of time, he’ll be a very good player in the NBA.”

CHARLOTTE – Shelby’s Alvin Gentry has seen rebuilding projects throughout his coaching career.

Being in the final year of his head coaching contract with the Phoenix Suns isn’t exactly a perfect situation for a coach, but Gentry is confident he can rebuild and reshape the team.

“We’re a team that's trying to find our identity,” said Gentry, a 1973 Shelby High graduate in his 12th season as a NBA head coach. “We have nine new guys. Sometimes the transition is smooth and you go right through it and sometimes it takes time. I’ve been happy with what we’ve done defensively. For the most part, we’ve done a good job and now we’ve got to find a rhythm on offense.”

Gentry was as close to home as he ever gets during the season Wednesday night as Phoenix held off a spirited Charlotte Bobcats rally to win 117-110 a finish a brief, three-game East Coast road trip with a 1-2 record.

The Suns (3-3) visited Utah Saturday night and will be hosting Denver on Monday.

After dealing away veteran All-Star Steve Nash for two future first-round picks and two future second-round picks in July, the Suns’ rebuilding efforts became official.

Among those nine newcomers are starters Michael Beasley, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic. And only two players have four or more years experience in Phoenix. Those veterans? Starter Jared Dudley and the injured Channing Frye.

“I think it’s a challenge,” said Gentry, who has previously been head coach in Miami, Detroit and for the Los Angeles Clippers. “There is a lot of joy, a lot of frustrations. You see improvement and you see setbacks.

“What I’m trying to do moreso than I’ve ever done is remain even keel. Because we are going to have peaks and valleys when you’re trying to put a team together and trying to find the identity of Phoenix Suns basketball in this era.”

One of the keys to improving the Suns’ future will be the development of former University of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall, who was Phoenix’s first-round pick in June and the 13th overall selection in the draft.

“I think he’s a typical rookie and I think he’s going to be fine,” Gentry said of Marshall. “You have to look at some of the other point guards in this league and you go back and look at what they did in their rookie year and their second year. It’s a really difficult position. (But) Kendall’s a hard worker and a great passer and, in a matter of time, he’ll be a very good player in the NBA.”